Tuesday newsletter time: Up 2-0 in ALDS, Rangers aren’t looking beyond Game 3
(AP photo/Alex Brandon)
Game 3 of the American League Division is at 7:03 tonight at Globe Life Field, and the Rangers need only one more win over Baltimore in the best-of-5 series to advance to the next round.
But the Rangers know not to look beyond the game in front of them, in part because they have been up 2-0 at home in previous postseasons only to have to go back on the road. They haven’t made any noise about a potential Game 4 starter or who they would rather play in the championship series or how much they will enjoy some time off between rounds.
They have their All-Star pitcher, Nathan Eovaldi, scheduled to start with an extra day’s rest since his impressive start in the wild-card round.
The lineup is getting the job done, and an early lead would have the Orioles going to their bullpen early in order to save their season.
A sellout crowd of 40,000 is expected for the first Rangers playoff game at Globe Life Field, which served as a bubble site for the 2020 COVID playoffs. The Rangers are expecting a vibrant crowd and hope to feed off of their energy.
The Rangers have a lot going for them.
The Orioles, though, won 101 games in the regular season and might have finally had a long-awaited offensive breakthrough Sunday in Game 2. The Orioles also won 52 times on the road, tied for the MLB lead with Atlanta.
Baltimore is loaded with young talent and big arms in the bullpen.
This isn’t going to be easy for the Rangers, and they know it.
As such, expect them to keep their foot on the gas.
Hotel livin’
Rangers players spent Sunday night at home for the first time in more than two weeks. Evan Carter spent yet another night in a hotel.
The rookie outfielder said that he hasn’t had a place to call home since he was with Double A Frisco. He left with them for a road trip on Aug. 22, then went to Triple A Round Rock for just under two weeks, then came to the majors Sept. 8.
He and his wife haven’t had a chance to go house hunting.
“I don’t even know where I’m going to live this offseason,” Carter said. “We’re just kind of going with the flow right now.”
Carter spent last offseason in his hometown of Elizabethton, Tenn., and is sure to spend some time there this offseason. However, he might want to work out at Globe Life Field with it now looking as if he will be the Rangers’ Opening Day left fielder.
He’ll need a place to live locally next season.
This guy isn’t going back to the minors.
Keeping it light
The daily Bruce Bochy press conferences could use someone playing rimshots.
The Rangers manager had the media going a couple times Monday.
First up was his response to one of my questions: Do you remember the crowds at Globe Life Park?
“Yeah,” he said. “It wasn’t that long ago.”
Ba-dum-tis!
Bochy also had a good response when he was asked if Mitch Garver would be in the lineup for Game 4.
“Well, I’ll say this: If you hit a grand slam, you’re in there the next day,” Bochy said. “So that’s a rule I had. I came up with it about 10 years ago.”
Ba-dum-tis!
He had a few light moments in Baltimore and Tampa Bay, too. He was asked during the wild-card round if players look at him as a father figure.
“Maybe a grandfather figure,” he said.
Ba-dum-tis!
Doggy video!
The Rangers have the birds right where they want them. Enjoy.
— out of context dogs (@contextdogs) October 7, 2023
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
Now I know that “Ba-dum-tis” is the official phrase for a rimshot! 🙂